Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-11-02
a Mexican Harvest Scene, de.
lCorrespondcnce of ,he Alexandra Gazette

a Mexican Harvest Scene, DE.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.l
CITY OF MEXICO, Oct 22.-These plains
ere situated abcat midway between Vera
Cruz and the City of Mexico, on the same
route taken by General Scott in ha march
from the coast to the Capital. They are en-
circled by high mountains and some of the
finest timber land in the couotry. These
dense forests abound III wild game including
wolves, wild cats, Mexican liens and many
other kinds. Here, too, the professional
! highwaymen find hiding place after their
raids on the road. As we passed through
every passenger was armed and every man
! we met was scanned with an expression of
| doubt as 10 whether ho should be fred on or
not. The reputation and loneliness Of the
pass makes the passage through here ap.
pear as long hours Of suspense mingled with
fear and excitement. And. indeed, our
worst fears seemed about to be realized
when we saw three mounted and armed
men drawn uD and waiting our approach
just beyond lonely turn in the road. Well,
the moments which followed are more easily
| imagined than described. Suffice 10 say, in
cur mind, We lived over all the tragedies
I low back novel. But time was shortfor ac-
iion and we felt called upon TO decide imme.
| diately on The question Of life or pocket
! book Then We began 30 reflect what
| pi!y it would be to go hack dead and thus
/ oe disqualified 10 write it all up. So III
view Of all this, our nerves began
to relax, and our thirst for human gore and
4 battle with the bligapds was transformed
( INTO lamb Ike resignation TO our fate.
/ BCJ with8l we rather rtjoced at the pTos-
| peot Of receiving just provocation 10 write
TITS county and Is people up black. Oh
but we would l. our mind, when 81 Cur
desk, hang The scaips of the brigands 10 our
! pisto! belt we would make our biistering
! pen G!lp eaul and aqua fortis on The heads
Of tho nation for permitting such outlaws to
! 20 at large We would drive sleep from
! their eyes anG peace from their souls for the
( rest OF their lives. Just then re felt ready
| nod almost willing TO hand out to the rob.
/ ber5 the pGy il advance as prizes for this
! privilege And Just then they appeared il
! 'front.' OF She stage window, with the words,
( :.Cosno 10 We caballeos' or how are you gen.
! tlsmen, just tben we learned that our sup
posed robbers were q Mexican mounted
guard Of RuTales who hed been ordered cut
/ 10 meet the stage and guard it through this
| lonely part of the road Thus our fine
/ theme faded &way and SO emerged from
the woods and entered the bread planes gel
l0w with fields of wheat, and alive with
hsrvesters, the whole making a very prma-
tive scene. All the great fields were being
| cut with the reap-hook and the women we're
binding and the children were gathering
up tue scattered ears, rs Ruth Of old, while
the men were carrying them outin rcpe fulls
on their backs. These harvesters receive
from one TO four bits dGy and board them
selves, while the lord of the great domain
rides about and superiDtends Gi!. The hay
is cut in the same wey and is often bound
aad taken to market on the backs Of don
KEYS These poor laborers wori on from
youth to old age about as slaves or as bond.
men oound to the soil by debt. 1t is far
worse than slavery was in the states before
tho war, for here they are not clothed or
provided for in sickness and are often de-
MED 6 permanent burial in death After
| the days journey We put up at The ancient
city of Porot0, where tho Spaniards built
the largest and strongest fort or castle 10 be
founG in the aew world. True to the
ancient style 1t has lis ancient watch towers
deep moat, and draw bridge. After visiting
this and other PLACES Of minor interest we
returned TO the "posadon Or stage house,
where We slept unit! midnight when we
were called UP to continue our journey. So
we rose, entered the stage, and iii the midst
of a cold night rain, we passed ou5 of the
slumbering city and were soon far on our
way across tha Seltpeter Lakes, which
are hut low fiat sheets Of shallow
water that cover this part of the
plain. The stage was drawn by ten mules,
and all went slow, with the wheels down in
the mud and water nearly to the axies. The
rain continued TO fall and the mules began
to tire out, and soon the stage came to a
standstill, when fresh start resulted only
iu breaking the double,trees, when the five
lead mules deliberately waded ashore and
we were left alone in the darkness, rain, and
in the centre Of the lake. Hero we remain
ed until three ia the morning, when we
were carried shore on the backs of peones.
Here we remained until six in the morning,
when fresh mules and about ten Indians
drew the empty stage out, and we again
went our way But, being tired, sleepy
and hungry, with wet clothes on, this part
OF the trip was not very conducive to per-
sonal comfort or any enjoyment of the scenes
on the road. This lasted until about ten
o'clock. when we reached the next posedo.
where fresh mules, hot coffee and smok-
ing breakfast awaited us, which, it is need
less to say, with dry clothes, turned all the
shadows into sunshine, after which We again
entered the stage and started off at rate OF
speed in which the dogs could hardly keep
up This continued until three O'Clock in
tae afternoon, when we reached the town OF
San Marcos, where we took the train and
went in search of new scenes, which we will
give in our next. RAMBLER.
-o-S>----
-